Founded 1934 Ground Grange Park, Wetherby | League Yorkshire 3 | |
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Full name Wetherby Rugby Union Football Club Location Grange Park, Wetherby, West Yorkshire | ||
Wetherby rufc unders v overs 2015
Wetherby RUFC are a rugby union club in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, England. They are one of two rugby clubs in the town, the other being rugby league side Wetherby Bulldogs. Wetherby RUFC play their games at Grange Park where they have been based since 1989.
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Wetherby rufc 2014 15 historic season montage
History
The first rugby union was played in the town in 1934. Initially the club played on the Ings (close to the site of the current rugby league club). The club folded in 1939 following the outbreak of war; it reformed in 1966. The club initially played at Lime Kiln Lane at Kirk Deighton using the Bay Horse as clubhouse. In 1970 the club tried to arrange a new ground at Grange Park (a former manor house that had been demolished in 1966 with the cricket club already playing there); this didn't come to fruition as the landowner died and the land was sold. In 1971 the club moved to Losh Pot Lane (also in Kirk Deighton). In 1981 a youth side was formed. The issue of upgrading the A1 came about again with another bypass being proposed; this would stand on land occupied by Grange Park. The site was cleared in 1986 beginning with the ceremonial burning of the cricket clubs 1920s pavilion and the cricket pitch moved eastwards. The lands new owner David Hudson opened up negotiations with the rugby club and in 1989 a new clubhouse shared with the cricket club was opened. This clubhouse was demolished in 2013 and replaced by a new larger facility.
Ground
The club moved to their current ground in 1989 with much of the facilities being rebuilt in 2013. The club share a clubhouse with Wetherby CCC and have three rugby pitches (I, II and vets); the I and II are floodlit adequately for training but not for playing. The alignment of the pitches was changed in the 1990s owing to crosswinds.